we will live --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Mr. Obama --

THE PRESIDENT: -- most importantly, we will live up --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: -- my family has been separated for 19 months now --

THE PRESIDENT: -- most importantly, we will live up to our character as a nation.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: I've not seen my family. Our families are separated. I need your help.

There are thousands of people --

THE PRESDIENT: That's exactly what we're talking about.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: -- are torn apart every single day.

THE PRESIDENT: That's why we're here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Mr. President, please use your executive order to halt deportations

for all 11.5 undocumented immigrants in this country right now.

THE PRESIDENT: What we're trying --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Do you agree

AUDIENCE: Obama! Obama! Obama!

AUDIENCE MEMBER: -- that we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform at the same time we -- you

have a power to stop deportation for all undocumented immigrants in this country.

THE PRESIDENT: Actually I don't. And that's why we're here.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: So, please, I need your help.

THE PRESIDENT: Okay --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Stop deportations!

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. All right.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Stop deportations! Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: What I'd like to do -- no, no, don't worry about it, guys. Okay, let

me finish.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Stop deportations! Yes, we can! Stop deportations!

THE PRESIDENT: These guys don't need to go. Let me finish. No, no, no, he can stay there.

Hold on a second. (Applause.) Hold on a second.

So I respect the passion of these young people because they feel deeply about the concerns

for their families. Now, what you need to know, when I'm speaking as President of the

United States and I come to this community, is that if, in fact, I could solve all these

problems without passing laws in Congress, then I would do so.

But we're also a nation of laws. That's part of our tradition. And so the easy way out

is to try to yell and pretend like I can do something by violating our laws. And what

I'm proposing is the harder path, which is to use our democratic processes to achieve

the same goal that you want to achieve. But it won't be as easy as just shouting. It requires

us lobbying and getting it done. (Applause.)

So for those of you who are committed to getting this done, I am going to march with you and

fight with you every step of the way to make sure that we are welcoming every striving,

hardworking immigrant who sees America the same way we do -- as a country where no matter

who you are or what you look like or where you come from, you can make it if you try.

And if you're serious about making that happen, then I'm ready to work with you. (Applause.)

But it is going to require work. It is not simply a matter of us just saying we're going

to violate the law. That's not our tradition. The great thing about this country is we have

this wonderful process of democracy, and sometimes it is messy, and sometimes it is hard, but

ultimately, justice and truth win out. That's always been the case in this country; that's

going to continue to be the case today. (Applause.)

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless America. (Applause.)